Medical Illustrations

Picture of Abdomen

The abdominal cavity is the part of the body that houses the stomach, liver, pancreas, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and the large and small intestines. The diaphragm marks the top of the abdomen and the horizontal line at the level of the top of the pelvis marks the bottom. Connective tissue called the mesentery holds the abdominal organs together. Several large blood vessels travel through the abdomen. The aorta and inferior vena cava are two important blood vessels that lie partially in the abdomen. A tough layer of fibrous tissue called fascia surrounds the abdomen. The abdominal muscles lie on top of the fascia and under a layer of fat and skin.